Newspaper Page Text
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@mr Corrajm&ents.
Forttaelml x and Raptlat.)
THINK IT TIME.
One of tbe grand and leading objects
entertained by those who have been
working to establish systematic opera
tions in the Mission and Sunday-school
work, by the Baptists of Georgia, is to
secure general cooperation among them.
By co-operation is meant working with
the same general objects in view, so as
to accomplish grander and more suc
cessful results.
Now, what are some of the results it
is desirable to achieve, co-operatively,
among the Baptists of Georgia ?
1. A great enlargement, and a more
successful prosecution of the Sunday
school work. We may lay it down as
the paramount duty of the churches to
sustain this work ; and, whatever they
do, it must not be neglected. In what,
then, must we co-operate (work togeth
er in order to attain,) in regard to the
Sunday-school work ?
Answer —1. We must endeavor to
organize and maintain a Sunday-school
in each church. 2. Try to increase the
interest in, and the knowledge of, the
Sunday-school work. To these ends :
1. Let Sunday-school institutes, and
conventions, be held in all the associa
tions. 2. Let the churches contribute,
regularly, to sustain the State Sunday
school evangelist, whose business it is
to promote this work.
With a view to co-operation, then,
let the prominent men of each associa
tion consider this matter in time, advise
the churches, and, when the association
meets, have your plans for Sunday
school work, and for raising contribu
tions to its support, so arranged that
they can be carried forward easily and
without friction.
Think, and prepare for action in time.
2. A general and systematic collec
tion of funds for mission purposes.
What is mission work ? Evangelization
operations. In what then must we
co-operate to promote evangelization,
or preaching of the Gospel ?
Answer —I. Objects. We shonld seek
to have the Gospel preached: 1. In
the hounds of each association in the
State, and where associations are weak,
the State at large should assist them
by furnishing contributions for State
evangelical purposes. 2. In the desti
tute portions of the South. 3. Among
the Indians. It will be best to confide
theso two last mentioned operations to
the Home Board. 4. In foreign coun
tries, through the Foreign Board.
11. Means. What are the means by
■which we evangelize the world? 1. By
preaohintj. Suitable men must, bd com
missioned for the worlfi 2. Money
must bg . collected r to support
money must come from
individual members in the chujrehss.
How shall we co-operato in this matter
of raising money? By each church
keeping steadily in view: 1. Their
‘duty of supporting missionaries. 2.
Some regular and systematic plan for
raising money. 3. Organizing with a
view to carry out that. plan.
Let each church organize some
scheme for collecting mission funds;
and .lot each association adopt some
organized plan for inducing churches
to contribute regularly for the mission
and Sunday-school work, and for sus
taining the two agents employed by
the Convention to promote the mission
and Sunday-school causes.
To keep these objects steadily in
view, and work up to them “ all along
the liue,” is co-operation with a view to
grander aud more successful results ;
and the prominent men of >‘acb associ
ation should instruct the churches in
these matters, and have all their plans
pre-arranged when the associations
meet, so that they can be carried out
easily aud without friction.
Think, and prepare for action in time.
Don’t wait for the association to meet
before these matters are considered,
but consult about them at once, all
over the State, and when your associ
ational bodies do convene, put your
well considered plans, or schemes, in
operation.
Respectfully submitted,
S. Boykin.
Macon, July 28. 187 k.
For tho Index and llaptist.]
I)K. WAKUKWS “ MISSION PUOPHKCY.”
Brother E. W. Warren has predicted
that there will be a much smaller
amount collected for missions under
the present single agent policy than
was collected under previous arrange
ments. There are reasons for fearing
that he will be found a true prophet.
Let tho Baptists in the State will it so,
and the prophecy is assured. Let them
but determine that they will not co.
operate with the State Committee, and
that one agent shall not collect as
much as a larger number, and the
thing is done. Nay, they need not will
it, but simply omit action at the proper
time, and a much less sagacious man
than brother Warren might have been
the seer.
The prophecy cau be proved to be
false only by action —by united action
among the Baptists all over the State.
The last minutes show that there are
950 churches connected with the Geor
gia Baptist Convention ; that they con
tributed last year, for all purposes,
315,621.80, which is a little more than
316 per church. This amount includes
the amount sent for minutes, which
would average about $2 per church,
leaving about 314 per church. Of this
sl4, hundreds of these churches did
not give as much as $4, and many did
not give sl.
In these 950 churches there are 610
ordained ministers, 200 licentiates, and
76,677 white members. This is the
field, and these are the agents who are
to determine whether a less amount
shall be collected this year than last.
If there is not an increased amount
collected, it will not be from poverty,
nor from a change of plan, but simply
because the ministers fail to bring the
matter before their churches, and give
their brethren an opportunity to give.
There are large city churches which
are far behind in the amounts which
they'ought to contribute. A general
improvement is called for all along the
line, which will only be made through
the agency of the pastors.
The chairman of the committee,
brother Skinner, has taken the lead in
♦his improvement. His report is grat
ifying. Others of the committee, in
their respective fields, are preparing
for active operations. Will not all
pastors, now that the time for raising
funds for the association is at hand,
make an effort —an extra effort —to
gratify brother Warren, and all lovers
of the Master’s kingdom, by showing
that regular, united, systematic giving
is now the policy adopted?
G. R. M.
For the Index and Baptist.
A PLEA FOR TOLERATION.
“ The kingdom of God ia not meat and drink,
but righteousness and peace and joy in tbe
Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serv
oth Christ, is acceptable unto God and approved
of men." ItomauH xiv; 17, 18.
Baptists, I believe, have ever been
considered by others, certainly they
have considerfid themselves the uncom
promising foe of ritualism, especially
of ritualistic intolerance. It may,
therefore, seem superfluous to call at
tention through a Baptist paper, to the
passage quoted above. But, it has sev
eral "times of late been called to mind,
in glancing over the editorials, commu
nications, and selections of some of our
denominational organs. The question
has repeatedly forced itself upon me,
are not these brethren attaching more
importance to outward ordinances
than to the Coristian life ? They are
certainly more severe upon what they
deem an an irregularity in mere ritual
ism than in regard to gross immoral
ities. Brethren in high positions with
in the sphere of these same Baptist
organs, have at times, unfortunately,
been adjudged guilty of flagrant vio
lations of the moral, not to say civil
law, and yet their conduct was passed
over in affectionate and charitable si
lonce, not one word of harsh criticism
or condemnation was heard. But
when a brothey of spotless reputajjop
does that which in itself is acknowl
edged to be not'only not immoral but
holy, elevating, df divine command and
a symbol of the joys of heaven, how
many are there whose voices are raised
in unqualified condemnation, not to say
bitter denunciation. The cry is heard
ringing through the land and reverber
ating from press to press and from pul
pit to pulpit, “Procul 0 procul este pro
fani" —out with him, “he is no longer of
us.” My dear Brethren, is there
to be toleration, gentleness, forbear
ance, love where the ten command
ments are violated, and when the
moral sense of a community is out
raged aud in a mere matter of rit
ual only, intolerance, harshness se
venty, “ handling without gloves,” and
a gentle reminder of the days of in
quisition ? Ah ! is this the spirit of
our Divine Master ? As our Heavenly
Father looks down upon us all from His
throne of Mercy can he approve aud
bless such ? Would He not rather
have ns i u member that “ the Kingdom
of Go! is not meat and drink,” does not
c 1 11 sist in the externals of religion, but
in righteousness, peace and joy in the
Holy Ghost.” And that there may be
no possible mistake, it is added, “ He
that in these tliiugs (“righteousness,
peace and joy in the Holy Ghost,”)
serveth Christ, is acceptable unto God,
(“ and if God be for us, who can be
against us ?") aud appoved of men.
Yes, “approved of men.” Some, hemmed
iu by an overweening denominational
ism, may condemn and stigmatize
with an ecclesiastical ban, but they
will be none the less approved, appre
ciated and honored by the vast multi
tude in the churches and out of them.
For one, I extend to that cultivated
Christian gentleman, that true and
tried servant of my Master, that loved
and honored herald of the Cross, whose
labors have so long been blessed of
Heaven and “ approved of men,” the
Rev. Dr. Burrows, my hand as a broth
er and a Baptist. I do not ask him to
repent or recant; I aui glad he has not
—I leave that to his own conscience.
“ Who art thou that judgest another
man’s servant ? To his own master he
standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be
holden up, for God is able to make him
s*and.” He may differ with me in re
gard to what is at most and at farthest
a mere inference of Gospel order, still
may he continue to bj one of us, until
our Father in Heaven calls him to his
reward. Gamaliel.
—ln conversation with a literary
gentleman recently, Dom Pedro, the
genial Emperor of Brazil, said that he
did not care so much to meet “society
men” as authors, artists and scientists.
This proves the Emperor’s fine sense
and appreciation of what constitutes
true merit. The snobs and snobbesses of
“society” might learn a lesson from
i the Brazilian soveigner.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
For the Index and Baptist.
LESSON FDR YOING EVANGELISTS.
Dear Young Brethren —Permit one
your senior to present to you through
the columns of our good old State
journal, a few thoughts which maybe
for your profit. ,
At this time there are many theologi
cal students enjoying their summer va
cations, and to their credit are seeking
to do good among the churches in
revival meetings. This is an impor
tant work, and the young brother that
engages in it, and performs well his
part, will merit and receive the appro
bation of the churches and their faith
ful pastors as well as the Master’s
blessing. The writer of this paper
feels a deep interest in all our young
brethren who are aspiring to the holy
calling, and never omits an opportunity
to do them good as far as he is l*ble.
He remembers too well himself when a
theological student how the pasters
took him to their homes and to their
churches, and how the brethren and
sisters fitted him out with clothing and
money to aid him in preparation for his
work. Now he takes pleasure in en
couraging others. The first important
suggestion I propose is this: To seek
labor in the churches by the-4Wferty
approbation of the pastors, and sub
mit yourself to their fatherly advice.
You should invite their criticisms, and
never attribute to them improper mo
tives, such as jealousy or envy of your
shining qualities. (§The pastor knows
best, and be is responsible for results.
If you should disregard the judicious
advice of the pastor, you would be like
a vessel turned adrift to the mfercy of
wind and wave. Beware, too, of the
flattery of good yet indiscreet brethren
and sisters. You must not believe
them sincere when they tell you that
your sermon would equal Spurgeon’s
best. Should you deem them sincere
when they tell you they never heard
such a sermon as the one you delivered,
you ought to have good sense enough
to know that they are mistaken; or
should you be pressed and besiegeu with
the high and generous compliments of
good brethren and sisters, let this pro
duce in you hurni ity. Flattery has
been the prelude to the downfall of
many a promising young minister.
Some members are sometimes led to
solicit the young evangelist to seek the
pastorate of their church, when if it
was done a good pastor would be ousted
or perhaps a division would be created
in the church, and the young brother
thrust into a position he was wholly
disqualified to fill. Ten, fifteen or
twenty days preaching in a series
of meetings, however successful the
preacher may be, is no gfjfea.ntße of
the kind of pastor he and
it is high -time
learning.this Jessnnj It
bo unprofessional but critflv, while
enjoying the kind hospitaffiies of a
pastor, to countenance any effort or
cosptraey to supplant him. You
should on the other baud give him your
sympathies, turn a deaf ear to all com
plainings against him by croakers and
discontents. You will see the propri
ety of this advice if ever you get into
the pastorate. Don’t be impatient
about a place; be patient and finish
your studies, and when you are ready
for work there will be vacant churches,
and if the churches are weak take hold
of them and build them up, as many
others have done before you.
In your intercourse with the churches
avoid showing marked preferences; this
will usually give offense. Never run
after a man because he has money or
is a man of influence. If any prefer
ence is to be shown to any one, let it be
to tbe worthy poor. Be careful never
to tell a mother that her little daughter
is the prettiest child you ever saw, in
the child’s presence. Flattery does not
become your calling.
In your preaching don’t fret and
c*hafe if all the sinners do not come up
for prayer when you make one of your
greatest efforts. This will spoil the
effect of the best effort you ever made;
and don’t be constantly telling the peo
ple how many hundreds you have been
instrumental in converting. Don’t keep
telling them that you dou’t preach for
their money, and that you are ready to
die for ihein. There is no Gospel in
all this, and it does not even tend to
make the Gospel more effective. Min
isters must be supported; and Christ
died for the sinners and His death is
sufficient.
Don’t announce, on passing through
or entering a city, your arrival in the
newspapers ; this savors of vanity, aud
is distasteful to humble, good people.
And lastly, never have your ear open to
compliments. If you want to know
what the people think of your ser
mons, never ask them, but judge by
the size of the congregation, the atten
tion they give you, and the good your
sermons are accomplishing. Some
times you will make a very poor effort
when yeu think you have done wonder
full'' well; well then if you ask a can
did brother or sister, what he or she
thinks of your effort, there would be
embarrassment in the answer.
Give just as little trouble to house
keepers as you possibly can. If your
lodgings are tolerable, endure them ; if
your iood is clean aud wholesome,
enjoy it; and if the people have your
washing done for you, if your clothes
will make you as decent as the best of
the congregation, then don’t fret and
cast the garments aside. These things
will grate harshly upon the generous
feelings of the dear sisters who have
done their best to accommodate you;
f and remember that Jesus, our adorable
Redeemer, had not whet© to lay His
head; and lastly, in preaching, always
go from your knees to the pulpit. God
bless you myvoung brothers, and may
you bring in many sheaves to the glory
of the Master, is the prayer of your
Elder Brother.
For the Index xnd Baptist.)
FROM THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
Rehoboth Mission,
Atoka, Choctaw Nation, July 20,1876.
Dear Index —lt has been long since
I reported from my field of labor, but
not for want of something to report.
The time has been employed in active,
and I trust, profitable work for the
Master.
A VISIT NOKTH.
According to a very cordial and cour
teous invitation, I visiteAthe Northern
Baptist Anniversaries at Buffalo, in
May. The Home Mission Society made
a report very favorable to the Indian
Mission work and the Committee on
said mission indorsed the report and
recommended an increase of labor in
that field. Also, that the churches try
to raise $25,000 the present year for
this department of home work.
Very favorable mention was made
of the work of the Southern Baptist
Convention among the Indians, and it
was expressly declared by the officers of
the Home Mission Society and others,
that they wished in no wise to inter
fere or conflict with the Southern work
among the Indians, but in view of the
importance of the work, its peculiar
claims upon the Baptists of the whole
country, and also because the Indians
themselves had petitioned the Society
to engage more earnestly in the work,
it was believed clearly to be tbe duty of
the Society to heed these calls and give
more attention to the Indians.
VISIT TO THE CHURCHES.
In company with brother G. W. In
falls, who has been appointed by the
[ome Mission Society as a kind of
District Secretary jor the Indians, I
visited some of the churches in the
States of New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut. We were cordially re
ceived everywhere, and told them that
the Indians were upon the hearts of
the people, and that they would all do
their best to raise the $25,000 for this
work, asked for by the Convention.
HOME WORK.
The reports of the native brethren,
for the quarter closed .June 30th, show
good and true work. One new church
has been constitute ! iu the field culti
vated by the Flint River Association;
two or three other out stations are about
ready to be constituted into churches.
The Sunday-schools have all been quite
prosperous this quarter. Books, papers,
and religious literature are being called
for constantly— nxofe, much more thau
I have had tne means to supply.
PERSECUTION.
It has not all been smooth and
pleasant work, however. We have had
troubles sore aud trying. The Choc
taw Council, for various reasons, in
April passed some very obnoxious laws
against the Missionaries ; as yet, they
have not affected any of us, and I trust
will be repealed.
OLD CUSTOMS.
An effort has also been made bv some
of the old-time Indians, (those wiioare
opposed to progress, civilization and
Christianity,) to lead off some of the
younger members of our churches into
ball-plays, stamp-dances, tanch pe-sbo
fas, etc. These have caused some of
the churches considerable trouble. It
is a great temptation to many of our
younger members to attend these fes
tivals and amusements of the olden
time, but it is equally dangerous.
Brethren, pray for the young Indian
converts.
THE SEMINOLES.
Brother John Jumper writes me that
he, too,Jhas had some trouble among his
people. He has been toiling to secure
a Baptist mission or boarding school iu
his nation, and he thought at one time
that it was fixed and secured, but
“Mony a scheme o’ mice and men,
Aft gang aglee,”
and Jumper's Baptist school is about to
slip from his hold.
GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
Notwithstanding the great falling off
of men and means furnished by the
churches in the States for the prosecu
tion of the mission work among the
Indians, yet the work has been blessed
of tbe Heavenh Father and increased
until’.it has become quite burdensome to
the few missionaries who are now on the
ground. I know this is true of brother
Buckner and his field, and I know also,
that it is true of me and my work, and
the same of the other two mission
aries. My work has grown so large,
and the calls upon me for time for visi
tation, for advice, aud for money help
have become so numerous and urgent,
that I am breaking down very rapidly
under it.
FINANCES.
The small salary afforded me by my
own Association, is all needed■ for the
support of my family. Two or three
other Associations have been sustain
ing native preachers for several years.
This has been of invaluable service. A
few small amounts have been received
by me from different sources, for the
cause of the Master in the general
work of the mission. These have been
faithfully applied and done great good.
But I am often compelled to let oppor
tunities pass for advancing the Master’s
canse, because 1 lack the means to im
prove them. If the churches and As-
sociations are not in a condition finan
cially to enable the Board or within
themselves to send and support a mis
sionary out here, or one of these native
preachers, will they not as often as
possible send little sums to the mis
sionaries now on the field, with in
structions that it be used in the gen
eral work of the mission f If you will
do this friends, it will greatly help us
in our work, and enable us often to do
much good. Yours in love,
J. S. Murrow.
READ TO SLEEP.
For threescore years and ten,
Burdened with care and woe,
She has traveled the weary ways of men,
And she’s tired, and wants to go.
It has been so hard to live!
And even her stinted store,
It seemed as if fate had grudged to give,
And she wishes her need was o’er.
So musing one afternoon,
Her knitting upon her lap,
She hears at her door a drift of tune,
And a quick, familiar tap.
In flashes a child’s fresh face,
And with voice, bird-like and gay,
She asks, "Shall I find a pretty place,
And read you a Psaltn to-day ?”
“Aye, read me a Psalm: The Lord
Is my Shepherd : —soft, not fast;
Then turn the leaves of the Holy Word
Till you come to the very last,
“Where it tells of the wondrous walls
Of jacinth and sapphire stone;
And the shine of the crystal light that falls
In rainbows about the throne;
“Where there never are any tears,
(Find where the verse so saith)
Nor sorrow nor crying through all God’s years
Nor hunger, nor cold, nor death;
“Of the city whose streets are gold;
Ah, here, it was not my share
One single piece in my hands to hold —
But my feet shall tread on it there /
“Yes, read of it all; it lifts
My soul up into tbe light,
And I look straight through the leaden rifts,
To the land where there’s no more night.”
So the little reader read
Till the slow-going needles stopped;
And then as she saw the weary head
On the wearier breast had dropped,
Rising, she nearer stepped —
How easy it all had been 1
The gates had unloosed as the sleeper slept,
And an angel had drawn her in !
Margaret J. Preston.
For the Index and Baptist.]
“DISCOIRIGING KELIGIDN.”
The article below, with the above
heading, is taken from the Cincinnati
Examiner. The subject will, in all
probability, excite more or less of pub
lic attention, because tbe President in
his last message brought it to the no
tice of Congress. Whether the Con
gress of the United States has any con
stitutional authority for the passage of
a law taxing church property in the
States is a question we will not dis
cuss, but leave it to politicans. But
should all church property be ex
empt from taxation? We think not.
There should be exemptions so far as
church buildings are concerned, and
even in that, the exemption should be
limited to a certain amount. But if
churches in anyway accumulate large
estates, and the investment is made the
more profitable as well as more valua
ble because free of tax, surely such an
estate should pay their proportionate
part of the expenses of government
just as much as any other stock com
pany or corperation. Is it needed for
pious and religious purposes to build
houses costing from a quarter to a
half million of dollars, “that the wor
shippers may tread with noiseless foot
fall soft carpeted aisles and sink into
luxuriuts seats that make religion
easy, from pulpits clothed in velvet and
satin, etc. If such houses are built
and these large and unnecessary
amounts of money are thus invested,
let them pay a reasonable tax for the
protection they enjoy. As Baptists,
we ask no Jprotection but such as are
guaranteed to all citizens—we simply
ask to be allowed our religious lights
and to worship God according as we un
derstand His word. We are willing to
accord the same to others. We do not
see the discouraging feature to piety
aud religion, the taxing of these larger
accumulations of money for church
purposes, which the subjoined article
supposes. The Baptists are not in
much danger of being injured, because
they have not such immense amounts
gathered into any one place. Their
membership is large and scattered,
over extensive territory, and hence their
investments in church buildings at any
one point is comparatively small. But
we give the article to the reader :
DISCOURAGING RELIGION.
Hon. O. J. Hodge, of Cuyahoga
county, made an elaborate speech in
the Ohio House of Representatives,
upon the taxation of church property.
He strongly took the affirmative of the
question. He argued that there should
be an actual aud complete separation of
church and .State; that the Ohio con
stitution declares that no person shall
be compelled to support any place of
worship against his consent; that to
exempt church property from taxation
is to compel the people who do pay
taxes to support places of worship
against their consent; that the exemp
tion commands the State to partially
maintain every church within her bor
ders, and is equivalent to a donation
from the State to the amount of the
exemption; that this question of taxation
lies close to the homes of all, and is the
foremost peril of our system of gove n
ment; that in twenty-four years the
value of untaxed church property in
the United States at the present rate
of progression will- be trebled ; that
Ohio is made to contribute $750,000
per annum to the churches under the
name of this exemption; that roofs are
selling from above the heads of poor
men for non-payment of taxes while
churches are accumulating vast estates;
that the State protects this untaxed
property equally with taxed prop
erty at considerable cost to her
self ; and he urges other points with
worldly plausibility. To the carnal
mind these arguments, or many of
them, have irresistible force. It is
quite evident, however, that Mr. Hodge
doesn’t understand modern religion at
all. In all his persuasive arguments a
subtle scheme may be detected to pre
vent religion from becoming influential
by preventing it from becoming rich.
He is against piety. It is possible,
under the present system, for religion
to become powerful. As matters are
going now everybody will presently
prefer .to invest in religion— next to
government bonds—and “the cause”
will then be strengthened. Thepropo
sition of Mr. Hodge, though sanctioned
by men of eminent piety, though mis
taken views, President Grant among
them, is a malicious attack upon the
Church of Christ. It is an endeavor
to cut off the church from religious
privileges. Mr. Hodge must have ob
tained his ideas of religion from the
Bible, or some such old-fashioued work.
It is true that when a distinguished
orator, outside the church, pictured the
coming of the Christian religion, he
very truthfully told us that the iron
wheels of the Roman chariot of brute
strength rolled over two continents,
smoothing the path for the naked feet
of the new Gospel, but the days of the
Gospel of the naked feet are passed.
Mr. Hodge doesn’t seem to realize that
he is not in harmony with modern re
ligion, that he is helping to beat piety.
He apparently forgets that the world
has been progressing since the apos
tles went about sandalless, without
purse or scrip, preaching their grand
and beautiful be.ief. Even sinners ride
upon railroads, and shall the Christian
religion go ou foot ? Mr. Hodge for
gets that while salvation, many years
ago, was to be had free, it is now to be
had for so much a pew. Mr. Hodge
defeats his own argument. He calls
attention to the fact that hundreds of,
people are made homeless because they
cannot pay the taxes on their homes.
He doesn’t see that the present policy,
if persisted in, will, because of that
very fact, finally persuade hosts of men
to invest iu religion, where they are not
taxed. They will be convinced that
church property is the thing “there’s
millions in.” Mr. Hodge forgets that
many years ago, when the King of Is
rael dwelt jin a house of cedar and
the Ark of God dwelt within curtains
the Lord was wroth, or he would not
complain of modern piety. It is true,
as Mr. Hodge gracefully tells us, that
the Christianity of to day aspires to
Heaven magnificently ; that the dim,
religious light that soothes the soul of
the modern saint creeps devoutly
through stained glass windows, falls up
on rich carving aud gild : ng that make
men attached to religion at once ; that
the worsnippers tread, with noiseless
footfall, soft carpeted aisles and sink
into luxurious seats that make religion
easy; that from pulpits clothed iu vel
vet and satin, in purple and crimson,
aud from sermons resting upon gor
geous gilded Bibles the Word is preach
ed, at salaries one of which for a Sun
day would have defrayed the expenses
of the Twelve Apostles during their
entire career on earth ; and, in addi
tion to incurring all this expense on
behalf of “the cause,” Mr. Hodge
asks the pious to pay taxes. Mr.
Hodge bases his argument largely up
on the fact that there should be no
commingling of church and State. But
this is exactly the attitude of the
church, and the argument of Mr.
Hodge again defeats itself. If the
church weie a tax-paver, it would be
engaged in making fills and cuts, and
in building railroads and in purchasing
parks, and in paying corrupt earthly
agents and in doing various other un
christian things, and the attempt to
make the church a partner in such sub
lunary and unholy transactions shows
the thinly-disguised designs of Mr.
Hodge upon the Church of God. He
would make the church of the earth,
earthly. If he intimates that some of
these forms of religion which are not
taxed because they are doing good are
really not doing any good at all, that
indicates that he is prejudiced against
some religion. Indeed, he suggests
that the Mormons and Atheists and
Deists and Jesuits and Budhists and
Mohammedans and Jutnpers may en
joy the privileges under the present
system for which they give no adequate
recompense in contributing to the pub
lic well-being. But this plan to pre
vent the church from owing corner lots
and becoming respe.table will fail. It
originated in the brain of the unbeliever
who insisted that one might throw
stones in a modem church throughout
the service without hitting a Christian.
It is a device of the enemy.